Sir Alex: I took Cantona's advice in 1996 FA Cup final | Squawka News | News Posted on September 26, 2015 Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that it was Eric Cantona’s idea that led to Manchester United beating Liverpool in the FA Cup final in 1996, pas er BBC Sport . United played Liverpool in their third consecutive cup final after securing the league title that season, beating their old rivals 1-0 thanks to a wonderful Cantona finish. The game is remembered for being rather unremarkable but Roy Keane won the man of the match award for his excellent effort in keeping Liverpool’s star man, Steve McManaman, out of the contest. And Sir Alex has confessed that it was actually Cantona who initially suggested getting Keane to man-mark McManaman in the match. Cantona celebrating his winning goal against Liverpool in the 1996 FA Cup final. Ferguson told BBC Sport: “In the cup final in 1996, we had a problem with McManaman and the way they operated. “We discussed playing a tight midfield.

Cantona, [Peter] Schmeichel and [Steve] Bruce were in my office and we went through various ideas and Cantona says ‘why don’t we stick Roy [Keane] right in front of the back four?’ “I said ‘well Roy will want to try and score goals at one end then come back to defend” but in fairness to Roy he was fantastic that day. “He sat in the middle of the pitch and nullified McManaman, and that eliminated their real danger to us.” The victory over Liverpool would see United become the first team in the Premier League to claim the league and FA cup double twice and Cantona became the first player from outside the British Isles to lift the cup as captain. The iconic Frenchman would go on to play one more season for United, being named full captain following Bruce’s departure to Birmingham, before retiring at the end of the 1997 season. Man United’s next game sees them host Wolfsburg in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

Eric Cantona’s shirt from 1996 FA Cup final shirt sold for £15,000 after former Liverpool FC defender Neil Ruddock picked it up off floor - Liverpool Echo Eric Cantona scores in the 1996 FA Cup final Share Get Liverpool FC updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email An Eric Cantona football shirt – discarded by John Barnes and picked up by team-mate Neil Ruddock – sold at auction yesterday for £15,000. The shirt was worn by the Manchester United legend when he scored the winning goal against Liverpool in the 1996 FA Cup final. Cantona swapped shirts with Anfield legend Barnes, who was so frustrated by the result he threw the number seven jersey on the Wembley dressing room floor in disgust. The Graham Budd auction catalogue takes up the story. “Neil Ruddock, who had not been selected to play or named on the substitutes’ bench, picked up the shirt and asked if he could keep it as a memento for the disappointment of not being a part of proceedings, which John Barnes agreed to.

“Neil Ruddock kept the shirt in his possession thereafter.” The catalogue put an estimate of £8,000-£12,000 on the shirt, but it ultimately sold for £3,000 more than upper figure. The shirt has historic significance, with Cantona becoming the first player from outside the British Isles to lift the FA Cup as captain in that final. At the same auction, a nine carat gold and enamel Liverpool Senior Cup winner’s medal awarded to Everton striker Wilf Oldham sold for £600. Oldham made 22 first team appearances for Everton between October 1898 and March 1900 scoring 11 goals. Everton dominated the early years of the Liverpool Senior Cup, winning the competition 12 times in its first 18 years. Another Liverpool Senior Cup winner’s medal from 1921, awarded to an unknown Everton player and with evidence that it was later turned into a brooch, sold for £400.

Steven Gerrard’s 2002 Community Shield jersey, from the clash with Arsenal at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, was auctioned for £380 after failing to reach an initial estimate of £400-£600. Arsenal had won the League and Cup double the previous season and Liverpool were invited to face them as league runners-up. Like us on Facebook From Michel Platini to Paul Pogba: How French expats flooded European football - Football - European | Sport360 article:17th November 2014 Michel Platini was France's outstanding export when he moved to Juventus. In an era of communitarianism in European football, the findings from the new CIES Football Observatory study on expatriates in the top five European leagues are somewhat surprising, with France ranked above Argentina and Brazil in providing the most players to the continent’s best leagues. Only two players from a club outside German borders started the World Cup final this summer for Germany while, conversely, no domestic player could be found in Argentina’s starting line-up and just one (substitute goalkeeper Agustin Orion) was on the bench.

This trend has long been the norm for European football, where the best domestic talent in Germany, England, Spain or Italy would often remain on home soil and be complemented by reinforcements from South America. Every player in the Spain team that started the 2010 World Cup final played for a Spanish club, every Italian player starting the 2006 World Cup final also hailed from a domestic side. The communitarianism of top European nations appears a given. France is now the biggest exporter of footballers to Europe’s top leagues according to CIES. [Sport] pic.twitter.com/bkD8QDVnF8 — Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) November 12, 2014 This trend has long been followed by England. Although failing to correlate with success in international tournaments, the Three Lions had no player from outside the UK in their 2014 World Cup squad, as had been the case in 2010. Despite this trend, and for the first time ever, a European country ranked first in the CIES ranking of expatriate providers in the five biggest European leagues (Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga and Ligue 1).

Overtaking Brazil and Argentina was France, a country whose recent underachievements on the international scene brushed off the headline-grabbing ‘Black, Blanc, Beur’ (‘Black, White, Arab’) diversity that characterised Les Bleus’ success at the turn of the century. France managed the feat of ranking above its illustrious South American counterparts for the first time, with 113 players outside its borders playing in the continent’s best leagues. Argentina and Brazil complete the podium with 112 expatriates apiece. From Karim Benzema or Raphael Varane at Real Madrid to Paul Pogba at Juventus, Franck Ribéry at Bayern and the colony of French players at Arsenal and Newcastle, French expats seemingly appear able to fit in anywhere. Compare that to England, who did not even make the rankings with only two expatriates (Ashley Cole at Roma and Micah Richards at Fiorentina). “The lack of opportunities for homegrown talent at PSG is such that Kingsley Coman left for Juventus.” On the one hand it is positive to see French academies once more gaining recognition.

The youth teams of FC Nantes, FC Metz, Olympique de Marseille or Lille OSC are always brimful with talent thanks to high-class youth coaches and top-class facilities. The country’s elite academy INF Clairefontaine keeps identifying and improving the country’s finest young talents every year. On the other hand, the logical conclusion from this study is that France witnesses a player exodus due to being financially unable to keep its talent. The recent emergence of PSG offered a glimmer of hope, as a virtuous circle of Nasser al-Khelaifi buying local talent to improve finances of lesser sides and enabling them to keep other young players might have changed things. However Blaise Matuidi was the only Frenchman in PSG’s starting line-up against Barcelona in the Champions League last month and the lack of opportunities for homegrown talent is such that Kinglsey Coman departed for Juventus, Hervin Ongenda left for Bastia on loan and Adrien Rabiot recently requested a transfer. Without a clear strategy to retain its best talent, Ligue 1 will keep tumbling in UEFA rankings and the French national team will struggle to deal with players coming from increasingly contrasting environments, sometimes unable to understand each other.

FRANCE’S ICONIC EXPORTS The recent CIES study underlines a trend with deep-rooted origins. For decades, going all the way back to Raymond Kopa at Real Madrid in the 1950s, the country has exported players who would go on to become household names in their respective sides. MICHEL PLATINI (Juventus) Coming out of the biggest disappointment of his career, the 1982 World Cup semi-final defeat to West Germany, Michel Platini joins Juventus in August of that year. His first months are hampered by a groin strain and being played out of position. He is close to leaving the club in January 1983 but club owner Giovanni Agnelli, who is said to « have shivers when watching him », decides to keep him and asks head coach Trapattoni to adapt his tactics. Platini goes on to become his side’s best player as Juventus win the Italian league in 1984 and 1986 and the Champions League in 1985 (in a final against Liverpool overshadowed by the Heysel tragedy).

He collects three Ballon d’Or awards in 1983, 1984 and 1985 and would later say « I joined Nancy because it is the club of my city, Saint-Etienne because it is the best club in France and Juventus because it is the best club in the world. » ERIC CANTONA (Manchester United) No French player became more of an icon abroad than Eric Cantona at Manchester United. Groomed by Guy Roux at Auxerre, he failed to make a mark at Marseille and later Nîmes, he left the country in 1991 to join Sheffield Wednesday on trial. Tired at waiting for a formal contract, he was snapped up by Leeds United in February 1992, establishing himself both on and off the pitch (telling fans “I love you, I don’t know why but I love you” upon celebrating the 1992 Premier League title). A controversial move to Leeds’ rivals Manchester United saw Cantona become an instant success, as he clinched the title with his new side (becoming the first player to do so consecutively with two different clubs).

He earned the PFA Player of the Year award in 1994 and became King Eric of Old Trafford. In January 1995, he sent a ‘kung-fu’ style kick to a fan who told him to go back to France after a sending-off against Crystal Palace and was banned for eight months, but he returned with some inspirational performances to lead the side a third Premier League title in four years. In May 1996 he became the first Manchester United captain from outside the British Isles to lift the FA Cup and retired the following year, aged 30. ZINEDINE ZIDANE (Real Madrid) Brought to Real Madrid from Juventus for a record-breaking €75 million in 2001, Zinédine Zidane managed the feat of standing out among a welter of superstars signed by Florentino Perez in the Galactico era. At the end of his first season he scored one of the greatest goals in Champions League history against Bayer Leverkusen, a thundering volley with his weaker left foot to bring his side victory in a 2-1 win at Hampden Park.

The next season he helped his side to a league title and was named FIFA World Player of the Year for the third time. In his final game, a 3-3 draw to Villareal, the 80,000-strong crowd at Santiago Bernabeau held up a banner reading “Thanks for the magic. Eric Cantona: Twenty years since the Manchester United legend landed in England | Mancunian Matters Eric Cantona: Twenty years since the Manchester United legend landed in England Eric Cantona: Twenty years since the Manchester United legend landed in England 08 Feb 2012 - 02:24PM By James Coldwell Eric Cantona’s dazzling career in English football began 20 years ago today on his way to becoming a Manchester United legend. The iconic striker played for United 144 times; scoring 64 goals in the five years he was at the club between 1992 and 1997. He became an ominous presence on football pitches across the country not only for his superb ability, but also for his fiery temper, highlighted by the infamous karate kick in the Red Devils’ clash with Crystal Palace in 1995 at Selhurst Park.

Cantona began his senior career in France in 1983 where he played for the likes of Auxerre, Marseille and Nimes before crossing The Channel for a one-week trial with Sheffield Wednesday in January 1992. The controversial figure then had a spell at Leeds United after declining an extension to his trial with The Owls before finally moving across the Pennines to join the red half of Manchester in November of the same year. The Marseille born star settled quickly into a side that was struggling for goals at the time and he netted his first in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on December 19. Controversy was never far away from the Frenchman and incidents including spitting at a Leeds United fan in his first season with his new club marred his career to a certain extent. However there was no question surrounding his talent and the following 1993-94 season proved to be the striker’s most influential in a red shirt, scoring 25 goals in 49 appearances for the club. In 1996 Cantona became the first player from outside the British Isles to lift the FA Cup as captain after taking over the armband in place of the injured Steve Bruce.

Cantona was confirmed as United’s captain the following campaign, a season that would be the striker’s last in his playing career, as he announced his retirement at the age of 30. He scored a total of 64 league goals for Manchester United, 11 in domestic cup competitions, and 5 in the Champions League, bringing his tally to 80 goals in less than five years with the club. In his brief but distinguished career in England, Cantona won four league titles in five years with Sir Alex Ferguson’ side. Ferguson himself deserves praise in taking the leap of faith on a player that former Liverpool manager Graeme Souness declined to sign when made aware of his availability by the then France manager Michel Platini in 1991. In recent years the former France striker has turned to acting, starring in the 2009 film Looking For Eric and even, somewhat comically, putting his name forward to run for the French presidency, but he will always be remembered in Manchester for his services on the football field.

The converted player will, quite rightly, go down as one of the best strikers ever to play in England and there is something quite endearing and loveable about a character that could be a magician one moment and a criminal the next. Related: Golden Goal: Eric Cantona for Manchester United v Liverpool (1996) | Football | The Guardian Golden Goal Golden Goal: Eric Cantona for Manchester United v Liverpool (1996) The Frenchman completed his United redemption in firing his side to double glory with a moment of exquisite skill at the end of a turgid FA Cup final Manchester United’s Eric Cantona scores the only goal of the 1996 FA Cup final against Liverpool. Photograph: Colorsport/Rex Shutterstock Friday 24 July 2015 05.00 EDT Last modified on Monday 4 April 2016 08.36 EDT Share on Messenger Close Absolution comes in many forms but it can be obtained in few sweeter ways than a late FA Cup final winner against your team’s greatest rivals.

Eric Cantona had spent the season searching for redemption in the wake of his eight-month ban and assault charge by leading Manchester United to a third league title in four years but it was his double-clinching volley, a moment of premium beauty on what had been a grim affair, that confirmed his entry into the club’s pantheon. From the Vault: Eric Cantona's kung-fu kick at Selhurst Park on 25 January 1995 Read more It was neither Cantona’s favourite nor his most aesthetically pleasing goal – lacking the audacity of his Sunderland lob , or the spectacular control against Wimbledon – but the 86th-minute volley against Liverpool at Wembley would leave a lasting legacy. The impact was multi-layered, for both United and Liverpool’s trajectories dramatically accentuated in the immediate aftermath. Cantona left an indelible impression, altering the landscape. Things have not been the same since. This was the conclusion of a season that began with Alan Hansen’s “you’ll win nothing with kids” comment and a genuine belief that Liverpool’s squad, full of elan under the tutelage of Roy Evans, were on the precipice of another prolonged spell of success. It did not quite turn out that way.

Step up, Monsieur Cantona. He re-entered from his eight-month ban and 120 hours of community service after kicking the Crystal Palace supporter who told him to “fuck off back to France” against Liverpool in the league at an Old Trafford showered in tricolores in early October. Cantona provided an assist for Nicky Butt inside two minutes and scored the equalising penalty in a thrilling 2-2 draw. The King was back but it took until Christmas for him to ascend to full throttle, at which point Newcastle led the league by 10 points. Cantona’s canny knack for affecting the crucial games would separate them. Without le Roi, Kevin Keegan may never have wilted under the crippling pressure that saw him deliver his infamous “I’d love it” speech. United’s defining run started with a 1-0 win over West Ham with Cantona scoring. They were two matches into a 12-game unbeaten streak at that juncture but the real turning point arrived at St James’ Park.

An imperious Peter Schmeichel had been weathering a hail of pressure before six minutes into the second half a hitherto muted Cantona volleyed home Phil Neville’s cross to knock the wind from Newcastle’s sails. Cantona would score in the next five games including another show-stealing performance against Arsenal. “They seem to take their lead from Cantona,” remarked the Arsenal manager, Bruce Rioch, afterwards. The title still went down to the final game, where they coasted past Middlesbrough, and after that United were then off to Wembley in search of a second double in three seasons. Steve Bruce had been the club’s captain but struggling to overcome a hamstring injury which also saw him out of the title-securing victory a weekend previous at the Riverside, Cantona became the first captain not from the British Isles to lift the Cup. A leader by example, conflicting with the common vociferous armband-wearer of the day (Bruce has said he barely spoke in his first few weeks at Old Trafford), he became a father-like figure to the younger members of the squad and an inspiration to those breaking through at the beginning of the club’s greatest period of success.

Roy Keane tells a story – though precise details differ between his two autobiographies – of how Bruce arrived at the Cliff one day with a royalty cheque for the first-team squad after they had contributed to “some video”. There was a discussion about how to split the money and it was decided a draw would be made. Whoever’s name came out would take the money, though younger players in the 18-man squad were given an option to take their dividend. The younger members took the cut – apart from Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, neither of whom would have been earning weighty sums at the time. Cantona’s name was drawn out but the following morning he brought two cheques in for Scholes and Butt as a reward for their hunger. “That was Eric to a T,” Keane recalls in his first book. “The unexpected, a touch of class and an appreciation of the plight of two young lads in need of the money more than himself.” It overwrites the theory of Cantona the cavalier. He was a flawed genius with a temper he struggled to tame but among the madness, the fighting and the fallouts, there was an air of class.

Aloof to strangers but warm to those close to him, there was a reason he became known as The King of Old Trafford. As Denis Law, the other former United player to have such a moniker bestowed on him, says: “I can’t think of anyone who I would rather wear my crown.” Pinterest Cantona at White Hart Lane early in 1996. Photograph: Action Images The Cup final itself had been largely forgettable before his strike, perhaps inevitable considering the hype and excitement prior to kick-off, and for many a buildup consisting of suits, songs and swipes are the more lasting impressions almost two decades later. Few could have foreseen at the time that the Spice Boys were in many ways trendsetters, an acquired taste before their time. Their flash fashion and showbiz lifestyles were balked at and the ensuing negative publicity was exacerbated by shortcomings on the pitch. Two decades on their behaviour would be considered tame in comparison to the life of excess lived by some of the biggest earners nowadays but when they disembarked their coach at Wembley and the world caught a first glimpse of those horrific Armani suits, a new depth was plumbed.

The dodgy sartorial choices spawned accusations that Liverpool were not fully focused on the game. Keane, who would become the captain after Cantona, often spoke of gaining an advantage in the tunnel – if a player was nervous or not fully tuned in he could detect it by their body language – and seeing their opponents decked out during the customary pre-match pitch meander must have given United a psychological boost. “If we had won the game nobody would have mentioned it but we lost and it has become infamous,” Robbie Fowler, who had thrilled for Liverpool that season, told the Mirror in a 2008 interview. “It was David James’ fault we wore white suits, it was his idea. He’s bigger than everyone so nobody questioned him and at the time he was an Armani model.” Pinterest Robbie Fowler, Steve MacManaman and Jamie Redknapp look smart in their matching white suits. Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images Then there were the songs. Liverpool’s passable Pass & Move (It’s The Liverpool Groove)’ had some dodgy lyrics but at least possessed a catchy chorus. The same could not be said for United’s cringe-inducing synth-influenced Move Move Move (The Red Tribe) .

The second verse started: ‘You’ll know that we are truly the best/’Cos unity is power/And we are gonna tower/High up above the rest’. For posterity, it should be remembered they outdid themselves three years later with the Oasis-influenced Lift It High (All About Belief) . Liverpool had outscored all but United in the league that season and predictions beforehand were of a high-scoring, gung-ho affair. It was soon apparent that would not materialise. Jamie Redknapp and John Barnes were limiting Cantona’s influence, while Keane and Butt silenced Steve McManaman. Extra time loomed and enthusiasm was being sapped from those packed inside the rickety old ground as they endured lengthy spells where nothing seemed to be happening. From Liverpool’s point of view the goal could have been easily avoided. A succession of errors led to the ball dropping in front of Cantona. It was frantic and when all that was needed was a cool head in a green shirt, the team suffered a collective brain fade. First Phil Babb sliced out for a corner with James waiting to collect a harmless ball under little pressure.

Then when David Beckham swung the ball in the goalkeeper came to punch it clear but misjudged the flight of the ball and it cannoned off Ian Rush, making his last appearance for the Merseysiders. Cantona was stood on the edge of the area. The ball came in his direction but the trajectory was far from ideal. He was forced to backtrack to stand any chance of a clean connection. A stride later he manages to arc his body over the ball and send a right-footed volley with the outside of his boot into the net. Appreciation of the skill involved increases with each viewing. His ability to strike with such venom from an unorthodox angle amid despairing but ineffective lunges of Liverpool defenders as the ball somehow makes its way through a phalanx of bodies and into the net is remarkable. As Philippe Auclair points out in his forensic biography about his compatriot, The Rebel Who Would Be King: “16 players were encamped in the box at this point, most of them directly in his line of vision.” “I don’t think another player could have scored a goal like that,” Ferguson said afterwards.

Cantona declared it as “one of the truly beautiful moments of my life, adding “I had a lot of things to prove this season”. He had done so emphatically. Pinterest Cantona becomes the first captain not from the British Isles to lift the Cup. Photograph: Christian Liewig/TempSport/Corbis Although over the 90 minutes they were separated by a solitary moment of brilliance, the psychological impact was one that Liverpool team could never overcome. Talk of being close to a league title was muted and United only became more dominant for the remainder of the millennium. It certainly affirmed the different directions both were going in. “That United team came through at the same time as us and we were always second best to them. That’s how it is sometimes,” Redknapp said in a 2010 interview in the Evening Standard. “We were branded [Spice Boys] because at Liverpool we underachieved.” Ferguson had let go of Mark Hughes, Andrei Kanchelskis and Paul Ince at the beginning of the season and decided to mould his team around Cantona – how well it paid off. “Just look at what a guiding force he has been,” Bryan Robson said.

“He has been one of the club’s greatest players.” And his influence was to grow further. Bruce departed for Birmingham City in the summer and Ferguson decided to award Cantona with the captaincy on a permanent basis. “Captains are all different,” Ferguson said at the time. “Bobby Moore wasn’t a shouter – he led by example. It’s the same with Eric.” His influence and impression cannot be overstated. When he arrived, preceded by that combustible reputation and short-fused temper (the Guardian’s David Lacey described him once as “nitro-glycerine in human form”), few could have envisaged the lasting legacy he would leave. Some wonder if the treble would have happened in 1999 without Cantona’s laying of foundations and the role he had in developing his younger team-mates a few seasons before. Yet nobody could have imagined 12 months later Cantona, at the peak of his powers, would be gone. Football had taken too much out of him, he had fallen out of love and saw no point in continuing.

“I loved the game but I no longer had the passion to go to bed early, not to go out with my friends, not to drink, and not to do a lot of other things – the things I like in life,” he told reporters after winning the Premier League’s overseas player of the decade award in 2003. Cantona has taken on almost mythical qualities since departing. He arrived with the air of a Gypsy according to Ferguson but left as a legend. “If ever there was a player in the world who was made for Manchester United , it was Cantona,” Ferguson said. “I think he had been searching all his life for somebody who looked at him and made him feel that a place was his home. He had travelled around so many countries; there is a wee bit of the Gypsy about some people. But when he came here he knew this was my place.” His name is still sung with gusto on the Stretford End and flags bearing his name are flown at Old Trafford – he may not return often and has previously spoken against the Glazers’ ownership of the club but he remains the king of M16 and will be for generations to come.

From Michel Platini to Paul Pogba: How French expats flooded European football - Yahoo Sports Canada From Michel Platini to Paul Pogba: How French expats flooded European football By Igor Mladenovic 17 November, 2014 8:34 AM    In an era of communitarianism in European football, the findings from the new CIES Football Observatory study on expatriates in the top five European leagues are somewhat surprising, with France ranked above Argentina and Brazil in providing the most players to the continent’s best leagues. Only two players from a club outside German borders started the World Cup final this summer for Germany while, conversely, no domestic player could be found in Argentina’s starting line-up and just one (substitute goalkeeper Agustin Orion) was on the bench. This trend has long been the norm for European football, where the best domestic talent in Germany, England , Spain or Italy would often remain on home soil and be complemented by reinforcements from South America.

Every player in the Spain team that started the 2010 World Cup final played for a Spanish club, every Italian player starting the 2006 World Cup final also hailed from a domestic side. The communitarianism of top European nations appears a given. France is now the biggest exporter of footballers to Europe's top leagues according to CIES. [Sport] pic.twitter.com/bkD8QDVnF8 — Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) November 12, 2014 This trend has long been followed by England. Although failing to correlate with success in international tournaments, the Three Lions had no player from outside the UK in their 2014 World Cup squad, as had been the case in 2010. Despite this trend, and for the first time ever, a European country ranked first in the CIES ranking of expatriate providers in the five biggest European leagues (Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga and Ligue 1).

Overtaking Brazil and Argentina was France, a country whose recent underachievements on the international scene brushed off the headline-grabbing ‘Black, Blanc, Beur’ (‘Black, White, Arab’) diversity that characterised Les Bleus’ success at the turn of the century. France managed the feat of ranking above its illustrious South American counterparts for the first time, with 113 players outside its borders playing in the continent’s best leagues. Argentina and Brazil complete the podium with 112 expatriates apiece. From Karim Benzema or Raphael Varane at Real Madrid to Paul Pogba at Juventus, Franck Ribéry at Bayern and the colony of French players at Arsenal and Newcastle, French expats seemingly appear able to fit in anywhere. Compare that to England, who did not even make the rankings with only two expatriates ( Ashley Cole at Roma and Micah Richards at Fiorentina). "The lack of opportunities for homegrown talent at PSG is such that Kingsley Coman left for Juventus." On the one hand it is positive to see French academies once more gaining recognition.

The youth teams of FC Nantes, FC Metz, Olympique de Marseille or Lille OSC are always brimful with talent thanks to high-class youth coaches and top-class facilities. The country’s elite academy INF Clairefontaine keeps identifying and improving the country’s finest young talents every year. On the other hand, the logical conclusion from this study is that France witnesses a player exodus due to being financially unable to keep its talent. The recent emergence of PSG offered a glimmer of hope, as a virtuous circle of Nasser al-Khelaifi buying local talent to improve finances of lesser sides and enabling them to keep other young players might have changed things. However Blaise Matuidi was the only Frenchman in PSG’s starting line-up against Barcelona in the Champions League last month and the lack of opportunities for homegrown talent is such that Kinglsey Coman departed for Juventus, Hervin Ongenda left for Bastia on loan and Adrien Rabiot recently requested a transfer. Without a clear strategy to retain its best talent, Ligue 1 will keep tumbling in UEFA rankings and the French national team will struggle to deal with players coming from increasingly contrasting environments, sometimes unable to understand each other.

FRANCE’S ICONIC EXPORTS The recent CIES study underlines a trend with deep-rooted origins. For decades, going all the way back to Raymond Kopa at Real Madrid in the 1950s, the country has exported players who would go on to become household names in their respective sides. MICHEL PLATINI (Juventus) Coming out of the biggest disappointment of his career, the 1982 World Cup semi-final defeat to West Germany, Michel Platini joins Juventus in August of that year. His first months are hampered by a groin strain and being played out of position. He is close to leaving the club in January 1983 but club owner Giovanni Agnelli, who is said to « have shivers when watching him », decides to keep him and asks head coach Trapattoni to adapt his tactics. Platini goes on to become his side’s best player as Juventus win the Italian league in 1984 and 1986 and the Champions League in 1985 (in a final against Liverpool overshadowed by the Heysel tragedy).

He collects three Ballon d’Or awards in 1983, 1984 and 1985 and would later say « I joined Nancy because it is the club of my city, Saint-Etienne because it is the best club in France and Juventus because it is the best club in the world. » ERIC CANTONA (Manchester United) No French player became more of an icon abroad than Eric Cantona at Manchester United. Groomed by Guy Roux at Auxerre, he failed to make a mark at Marseille and later Nîmes, he left the country in 1991 to join Sheffield Wednesday on trial. Tired at waiting for a formal contract, he was snapped up by Leeds United in February 1992, establishing himself both on and off the pitch (telling fans “I love you, I don’t know why but I love you” upon celebrating the 1992 Premier League title). A controversial move to Leeds’ rivals Manchester United saw Cantona become an instant success, as he clinched the title with his new side (becoming the first player to do so consecutively with two different clubs).

He earned the PFA Player of the Year award in 1994 and became King Eric of Old Trafford. In January 1995, he sent a ‘kung-fu’ style kick to a fan who told him to go back to France after a sending-off against Crystal Palace and was banned for eight months, but he returned with some inspirational performances to lead the side a third Premier League title in four years. In May 1996 he became the first Manchester United captain from outside the British Isles to lift the FA Cup and retired the following year, aged 30. ZINEDINE ZIDANE (Real Madrid) Brought to Real Madrid from Juventus for a record-breaking €75 million in 2001, Zinédine Zidane managed the feat of standing out among a welter of superstars signed by Florentino Perez in the Galactico era. At the end of his first season he scored one of the greatest goals in Champions League history against Bayer Leverkusen, a thundering volley with his weaker left foot to bring his side victory in a 2-1 win at Hampden Park.

The next season he helped his side to a league title and was named FIFA World Player of the Year for the third time. In his final game, a 3-3 draw to Villareal, the 80,000-strong crowd at Santiago Bernabeau held up a banner reading “Thanks for the magic. Related Links Leave the FA Cup alone, stop hijacking the best ties with glitzy Premier League games on other channels | Daily Mail Online comments The best game of the weekend? Manchester United v Chelsea; kick-off 4.30pm, Sunday. The second-best fixture on FA Cup quarter-final weekend? Liverpool v Tottenham; kick-off 4pm, Sunday... In, erm, the Barclays Premier League. Another victory for the dunderheads running English football. Divide the audience and conquer. Those clever TV executives at ITV and Sky Sports, the fixture boffins at the Premier League and administrators at the FA had an entire weekend to schedule two top matches. But no. Sod the FA Cup - the grandest of football competitions and rightly a great English institution. Up for the Cup: Didier Drogba celebrates after Chelsea beat Liverpool to win last season's FA Cup.

The Blues travel to Manchester United on Sunday, a match that controversially clashes with Liverpool-Spurs in the Premier League Victory parade: An Arsenal staff member shows off the 1936 FA Cup to supporters at Highbury This weekend is supposed to be all about the magic of the FA Cup. What happens if the first half hour on Merseyside turns out to be an explosive feast - there's every possibility with Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale on show? The very least we can expect is some captivating diving and Oscar-deserving play-acting. Will Martin Tyler and his Sky pals politely remind the watching public that, although they’re very welcome to stay on supersonic, ultra-HD, whizz-bang Sky Sports 1, for the sake of our great game and it’s fine traditions, you should all really now switch to good old ITV1? Not on your nelly, they won’t. Can you blame them? Yes, actually. They could have moved the match. But you must blame ITV as well - in fact, perhaps, more. They choose to force the clash.

Live alternative: Star attractions Luis Suarez (left) of Liverpool and Tottenham's Gareth Bale (right) are sure to take audience away from the FA Cup quarter-final - surely the FA/ ITV realised this when they forced the clash? WEEKEND'S FIXTURES Newcastle v Stoke (3pm) Liverpool v Tottenham (4pm) Sky Sports were due to broadcast the sold-out league game between Fulham and Chelsea at 1.30pm on Sunday, but that’s off because of the quarter-final at Old Trafford. Why not switch the Anfield clash to that slot? See, problem solved. Or how about the FA? They - the guardians of the game - are the ones, in cahoots, with ITV to put United-Chelsea on at 4.30pm. They knew Liverpool v Spurs was on at 4pm. Sportsmail knew that too, it was announced on January 18 (providing neither side were still in the FA Cup, of course). It’s the FA’s responsibility to protect and govern the game. But all parties share a responsibility to serve the sport’s best interests: the TV companies, the fans, the sponsors... even us journalists.

And that, more than anything, means guarding the grand old FA Cup, sponsored by Budweiser, remember. I wonder what the brewers think of the FA's decision to besmirch this Cup weekend in this way? One assumes they feel a little flat (bit like the beer*) [*Legal disclaimer: That is a cheap gag, which carries not a shred of truth. In fact the joke is rather tasteless, just like the beer... Oops, another joke, sorry. Budweiser really is the ‘king of beers’.] Leave the FA Cup alone. Stop playing matches on FA Cup final day. Stop hijacking the best and biggest ties with glitzy Premier League offerings on a rival channel. Sealed with a kiss: Ipswich's Kevin Beattie and Mick Mills celebrate beating Arsenal 1-0 in the 1978 FA Cup final On the buses: Bill Shankly (in tartan cap) leads the Liverpool celebrations on an open-- top bus parade with the 1974 FA Cup.

(From left) Steve Heighway, Emlyn Hughes, assistant boss Bob Paisley holding the cup with manager Shankly and Kevin Keegan (far right) The FA and ITV could have avoided it - they caused it. Sky Sports and the Premier League could have stopped it. The result is a classic English footballing mess. I’m not - totally - naive. I understand there are extreme pressures on fixtures and that the Premier League falls in behind the FIFA and UEFA competitions. I also know that the Premier League are not meant to place matches during FA Cup replay midweeks. So, the argument goes, Liverpool-Spurs has to be played this weekend and it has to be played on Sunday because of Tottenham’s Europa League game last night. But (and it is a rather large BUT) it doesn’t have to be played at the same time as United-Chelsea. It simply does not.

Tottenham's turn: Spurs show off the 1981 FA Cup, complete with police horse chaperones In black and white: Sir Alex Ferguson's first trophy with United came in the 1990 FA Cup final - here Mark Hughes and Mark Robins celebrate A Premier League spokesman told Sportsmail: 'The compilation of the Premier League fixture list is a complex process. We are made aware of international, European competition, FA and League Cup match dates and have to work around them while also taking policing considerations, broadcaster selections and several other factors into account. 'It is up to other competitions to choose broadcast slots for their matches. The Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur Premier League fixture taking place this Sunday was selected for a 4pm broadcast on January 18 and several thousand fans have made arrangements on that basis. Our UK and international broadcasters have also done the same. 'The penultimate weekend of last season was scheduled so that every Premier League match that could be played on Sunday did so in order to give space to the FA Cup final.

We will take the same approach this season.' An ITV spokesman said: 'As the free to air broadcaster of the FA Cup, we want to bring key fixtures in the competition to the widest possible audience and the number of people we can reach with an afternoon kick-off is far greater than earlier in the day. We look forward to bringing our viewers lively and entertaining coverage of what promises to be a memorable match.' The FA and Sky Sports declined to comment. Que sera, sera. Whatever will be, will be, we’re going to Wembley... it’s just a shame not everyone will see. 10 CLASSIC CUP MOMENTS (BEFORE THEY STARTED MESSING AROUND WITH IT) First FA Cup final goal was scored by Morton Betts in 1872 for Wanderers, a team formed by ex-public school and university players. They won the opening final 1-0 against Royal Engineers at Kennington Oval. A crowd of 2,000 attended the match and they each paid one shilling to attend. Ryan Giggs’ wonder-goal against Arsenal in 1999 is one of the greatest in FA cup history.

After picking up the ball from a poor Patrick Vieira pass, Giggs ghosted past the Arsenal defence and fired Manchester United into the final as part of their remarkable treble-winning season. ‘Crazy Gang’ winning the 1988 FA Cup. Liverpool's title-winning team included Barnes, Beardsley and Aldridge. Wimbledon were major underdogs. However, a Lawrie Sanchez near-post header in the 37th minute delivered a shock victory - helped by Dave Beasant's brilliant penalty save. David Seaman’s save in the 2003 FA cup semi-final will go down as one of the greatest goalkeeping moments in the competition. Clawing back a Paul Peschisolido header towards the end of the game, Seaman’s feat of agility ended Sheffield United’s hopes and put Arsenal into the final. Roberto Di Matteo scored the fastest FA Cup final goal in 1997. The Chelsea midfielder received the ball in midfield, strode forward and fired his shot over Ben Roberts in the Middlesbrough goal only 42 seconds after kick-off. A real FA Cup underdog story when Ron Atkinson’s Manchester United travelled to Third Division Bournemouth in 1984.

The Cherries, managed by a young Harry Redknapp, managed to deliver a massive cup upset, with Milton Graham and Ian Thompson scoring the goals in a 2-0 win. Giantkiller: Bournemouth boss Harry Redknapp relaxing at home in 1984 Paul Gascoigne’s 1991 FA Cup semi- final free-kick for Tottenham goes down as one of Gazza's finest moments. His 35-yard screamer set up a 3-1 victory over their bitter north London rivals, and ended all hopes of a double-winning season for Arsenal. The 2006 FA Cup final between Liverpool and West Ham is considered one of the greatest in the modern era. Steven Gerrard scored a stunner in the 91st minute to take the game into extra-time at 3-3. After a tight next 30 minutes, Liverpool ended up victors, winning 3-1 on penalties. At the age of 38, Stanley Matthews was the architect of Blackpool’s amazing comeback against Bolton Wanderers in the 1953 FA Cup final.

A hat-trick from Stan Mortensen and a 92nd-minute goal from Bill Perry saw the Seasiders fight back from a 3-1 deficit to wrest the trophy from the Trotters. Wembley wizard: Stanley Matthews streaks down the wing to beat Bolton's Wheeler No 4 and puts the ball across to Bill Perry who scored the fourth and winning goal giving Blackpool a 4-3 FA Cup win in 1953 My favourite FA Cup goal. Eric Cantona stole the show in the 1996 final between Manchester United and Liverpool. After spending eight months suspended for kicking a Palace fan, the Frenchman returned that season and scored his memorable goal past David James. He also became the first player from outside the British Isles to lift the trophy as captain. By Oliver Harbord eric cantona - 必应 5 min · 771,563 views 2015-11-10 · Eric Cantona Best Skills & Goals Ever I must state that in NO way, shape or form am I intending to infringe rights of the copyright holder.

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Question: Who, in 1996, became the first player from outside the British Isles to lift the FA Cup as captain?
Answer: Eric Cantona